Mr. Seán Dorgan:

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senators. It is a great privilege to be here this morning to address the committee. I thank it for the invitation to participate in these hearings. I commend it on it is very important work. It is timely and important that it is reviewing local government in Ireland, and we look forward to its final report and recommendations.

It is important that we acknowledge how the work of councillors has evolved very significantly over the past decade and a half. We in Fianna Fáil believe a strong local democracy is vital for our country. We will continue to support the further evolution of the roles of councillors and local authorities. We believe in the critical importance of councillors to and in our democratic system.

As members will be aware, a series of measures have been put in place that have been vital for local democracy over the years. Ensuring fixed electoral terms, including local government in the Constitution, and significant improvements to councillor terms and conditions and pay were, we believe, essential reforms, meaning this has been one of the most active and professional periods in the history of local democracy in Ireland.

We believe the abolition of town councils was a mistake. As we have set out in various manifestoes, including during our most recent local election campaign, we believe town councils should be restored. Ireland has relatively few elected local bodies in the European context. In many countries, every village, town and city district has its own elected council as part of a pyramid approach to national, regional and local government. We would not go that far, but significant towns need an accountable democratic forum to lead local improvements and development and ensure more voices from our communities across the country are heard.

Regarding public participation in local government, we should acknowledge that our councillors have a long tradition of being highly connected and in touch with the communities they represent. We see this in our party, Fianna Fáil, across our 248 councillors. As is common with councillors of all parties or none, our councillors are true community champions up and down the country. Significant progress has been made since Covid in how councils do their business. We need to encourage local government to continue to integrate more family-friendly procedures. We need to lower as many practical barriers to entry and participation as possible and encourage and facilitate councils on this journey. For example, as some speakers have mentioned, the recently introduced maternity leave cover is long overdue and very welcome.

Regarding gender balance, as the committee will be aware, Ireland has one major difference from other countries in that we have neither party lists or single seat constituencies. These are the primary mechanisms used elsewhere to achieve particular outcomes. The approach that applies to Dáil elections ensure that parties achieve a balance in candidates through the use of the funding system. There is no such mechanism available for local government. The strength of our democratic system is that literally anyone can stand for election. National parties are not, and have never been, solely in charge of who people can vote for. However, as Mr. Sheehan mentioned, just because it is complex does not mean we should not look at and try to improve it. Frankly, we need more women in politics and local government and running for election. We all have more work to do in that regard. That is something that is and continues to be a key priority for us in Fianna Fáil.

We welcome the fact that the Cathaoirleach identified the issue of abuse and threats facing candidates, especially female and minority candidates, standing in election. All speakers have referenced that in their contributions. This is something that has become a real issue and is a deterrent to many potential candidates seeking election. I find, and I am sure it is similar in other parties, that an increasing number of candidates ask to discuss how they should handle abuse. We in Fianna Fáil have worked to introduce specific training and individual supports, along with putting in place a confidential support service for all candidates and public representatives. We will continue to do more.

I commend Women for Election on the most recent local elections in terms of its assistance regarding this issue. Frankly, this behaviour needs to be called out and the personal abuse, which is often anonymous and, equally, relentless and frequently online, has to be tackled. We should thank the people who put themselves forward for election and not tolerate those who proclaim themselves to be the real voices of the people but end up distorting debate and undermining real democratic engagement in our communities. Systematic work needs to be undertaken to document and address the abuse and increasing intimidation directed against democratic candidates of all parties and independents.

In my experience, An Garda Síochána has been very proactive and supportive in dealing with such matters. Frankly, social media companies need to do more to stamp out this type of behaviour. However, it is a serious matter for all of us, political parties, social media companies, representative bodies, the Electoral Commission and Government. We need to work together over the next while to see how we might generate solutions to deal with this issue. If it is allowed to fester and continue, democracy, national and local, will suffer.

This said, it is important to say again that the relationship between candidates and representatives and their local communities is a strength of our system. What we need most of all now is respect for the goodwill, hard work and honesty of the overwhelming majority of people who stand for election.